Ringwood's Wayne Mann to be recognized as a 'Hero'

RINGWOOD — From questions about polluted land to which vegetables should be grown in a local school garden, Wayne Mann has been the go-to guy for his community, federal officials, reporters, teachers and local children, all agree.

A leader of the Ramapough Mountain Indian community in Upper Ringwood, Mann led his neighbors in a fight to get Ford Motor Co. to clean up his neighborhood after it dumped industrial waste there 40 years ago.

He dealt with federal and state legislators, environmental and health officials and a media circus six years ago as the federal Environmental Protection Agency directed Ford to restart its previously incomplete cleanup process. The issue drew national attention.

For his leadership, drive and generosity with time and expertise, Mann will be honored at a Red Cross Hero Award breakfast on Saturday with 11 other North Jersey recipients. Co-sponsored by Unilever Corp., the event will be held at the Unilever complex in Englewood Cliffs.

In addition to his work in the Ford cleanup, Mann is being recognized for his efforts in creating a Native American garden at a local elementary school.

There he spent time with teachers and students explaining how to care for plants indigenous to the area and how they were used by Native Americans centuries ago.

Mann was nominated by Patrick Martin, superintendent of the Ringwood School District.